Mayo Distillery Creates 18 Jobs

Plans for a new whiskey distillery in Connaught – the first in the region for more than 100 years – has been announced by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The investment by Nephin Whiskey Company will see a total of 18 full-time jobs created in the village of Lahardaun, Co Mayo, while a further 30 temporary roles will be created during the construction phase of the scheme.

The project will involve renovating a number of vacant buildings in the village, including a stone granary from the 1800s. A new visitor centre will be created at the site and is expected to attract up to 40,000 visitors each year.

Welcoming the investment, An Taoiseach said: "Broader economic recovery will be driven by small businesses creating high quality local jobs. I'm delighted that the announcement by Nephin Whiskey Company was made possible with the assistance of the Mayo Local Enterprise Office and with the support of the local community.

"The Government considers Irish food and drink production as one of the most important domestic industries for the country and we have seen exports increase by nearly 20% since 2011. Nephin Whiskey Company is a perfect example of how we can use our natural strengths to broaden recovery and create jobs."

(JP/CD)